GAME NOTES: The Oklahoma State Cowboys have struggled since a solid start to the campaign, and they will attempt to end a drought when they take on the SMU Mustangs today in Dallas.
Oklahoma State has lost its last three outings, including two in a row by double digits. A 69-52 setback to Alabama last Wednesday dropped the Cowboys to 6-5 overall, and there is additional reason for concern when considering the team is 0-4 in neutral-site affairs this season.
SMU has won five of its last six games to move to 7-4 overall, and three of the four losses this season have come by six points or fewer. The Mustangs were most recently in action last Thursday when they knocked off Dallas Christian in a 77-41 final. Like OSU, SMU has struggled in neutral-site games this season, going just 1-3 to this point.
The Cowboys hold a 19-6 series lead over the Mustangs, and the programs haven't met since 2005.
Oklahoma State is generating a mediocre 67.7 ppg through 11 outings while holding foes to 63.7 ppg on 39.4 percent field goal efficiency. There are just two double-digit scorers in the fold for the Cowboys, and neither of them have been dominant. Le'Bryan Nash brings 13.1 ppg to the court despite his 38.6 percent shooting from the floor, and Keiton Page provides 11.7 ppg. Nash scored 17 points against Alabama last time out, and Jean-Paul Olukemi added 12 points off the bench for Oklahoma State. Page managed just three points for the Cowboys, who shot a dismal 32.7 percent from the field, which included a 3-of-15 showing from three-point range. They also finished with six more turnovers than assists, and simply didn't play well enough to be competitive.
The Mustangs rely heavily on the duo of Robert Nyakundi and London Giles to be productive at the offensive end every time out. Nyakundi is tops with 16.7 ppg on 55 percent shooting from the field, including 48.5 percent from three-point range. Giles checks in with 13.2 ppg, and it certainly helps matters than he knocks down 44 percent from behind the arc. While SMU isn't an explosive offensive team by any means (64.9 ppg), the club excels at the defensive end by limiting foes to 57.8 ppg on 40.6 percent field goal efficiency. Nyakundi scored 18 points in the most recent win over Dallas Christian, while Giles was held to seven points in that lopsided affair. The Mustangs connected on 50.9 percent of their field goal attempts and finished with a 45-27 rebounding advantage. They also held their overmatched opponent to 26.8 percent shooting from the floor.
The Cowboys lack the firepower to pull away from most foes, so expect SMU to hang around tonight. Still, give the edge to Pokes.
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